Opinion
The FISA Act
Laurance Frierson
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Opinion
(Note: This piece appears in response to Mr. Nick Lawrence's
pice on FISA in the Feb. 12 Docket.)
Who's your Daddy?
"…The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the
Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and
judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several
States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this
Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a
Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United
States." Article VI, U.S. Constitution.
Mindful of Article VI, South Carolinians may have been surprised
when they received a presidential campaign flyer this
month that featured a picture of a candidate bowed in prayer
with the words "COMMITTED CHRISTIAN" displayed prominently
across the photo. To assuage any lingering doubts, the
pamphlet continued and promised primary voters that this particular
candidate will be a president "guided by his Christian
faith."
It is bad enough that this mailing was sent in a direct effort to
pander to Christian voters - something from which neither
Democratic nor Republican candidates have shied. However,
the true insult to our Constitution lies in the fact that "COMMITTED
CHRISTIAN" was also Barack Obama's answer to a
whisper campaign seeking to exploit religious intolerance.
Judging by the South Carolina primary results, Obama passed
his test.
Think it only applies to Obama? Ask Mitt Romney to explain
what prompted last November's "JFK Speech," or ask Mike
Huckabee to qualify his views on evolution for the nth time.
While you're at it, turn on any recent debate and watch as candidates
clamor over one another to prove who is the most Godfearing
of the group.
Cast the blame where you will; Article VI has left the building
- religion is out of the bag.
However, in a campaign season that has already seen Romney
attack what he describes as a "religion of secularism" and
pice on FISA in the Feb. 12 Docket.)
Who's your Daddy?
"…The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the
Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and
judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several
States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this
Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a
Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United
States." Article VI, U.S. Constitution.
Mindful of Article VI, South Carolinians may have been surprised
when they received a presidential campaign flyer this
month that featured a picture of a candidate bowed in prayer
with the words "COMMITTED CHRISTIAN" displayed prominently
across the photo. To assuage any lingering doubts, the
pamphlet continued and promised primary voters that this particular
candidate will be a president "guided by his Christian
faith."
It is bad enough that this mailing was sent in a direct effort to
pander to Christian voters - something from which neither
Democratic nor Republican candidates have shied. However,
the true insult to our Constitution lies in the fact that "COMMITTED
CHRISTIAN" was also Barack Obama's answer to a
whisper campaign seeking to exploit religious intolerance.
Judging by the South Carolina primary results, Obama passed
his test.
Think it only applies to Obama? Ask Mitt Romney to explain
what prompted last November's "JFK Speech," or ask Mike
Huckabee to qualify his views on evolution for the nth time.
While you're at it, turn on any recent debate and watch as candidates
clamor over one another to prove who is the most Godfearing
of the group.
Cast the blame where you will; Article VI has left the building
- religion is out of the bag.
However, in a campaign season that has already seen Romney
attack what he describes as a "religion of secularism" and
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